Revolution Day, Egypt

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Revolution Day is celebrated in Egypt on 23rd July every year. The day marks the beginning of the military coup in 1952 which led to the proclamation of the Egyptian republic.

The 23rd July Revolution was a turning point in the history of Egypt and the entire Third World during the second half of the 20th century. The Revolution sprang from the Egyptian conscience, reflecting the history, traditions and heritage of the Egyptian people. The Revolution changed the face of life in Egypt dramatically.

According to an account on an Arabic-Egyptian News service: "The homeland's independence and dignity were restored; the overwhelming majority of the Egyptian people regained their stature and rights; the key mission of the leadership achieved progress and development for the Egyptian citizen in his present and future. The Revolution, remains despite all international changes and events of history, a precious value in itself that belongs to all the Egyptian people. The Revolution derived its principles from the values of the Egyptian people such as social justice, rejection of alliance policy, the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) led by Egypt, independence of national decision, and building a strong army. All these values, incarnated the principles of the Revolution and are in fact the values of the Egyptian people borne in the national conscience throughout the prolonged course of struggle".

A secret cell in the army was set up early in 1952 including a number of officers from different corps known as the free officers group and led by Lieutenant Colonel Gamal Abd Al- Nasser.

In the morning of 23rd July 1952, army forces marched to take control of government authorities and state bodies, the radio, and the public utilities. Major Muhammad Anwar Al- Sadat broadcast a statement to the people of Egypt in which he declared the outbreak of a peaceful bloodless movement by the army forces for the national welfare on the basis of revolutionary legitimacy.

The motives for staging the revolution were explained in some detail on the radio and subsequently in the press. The prime reason given was corruption in the political and constitutional structures. It was said there was a corrupt royal regime and corruption of the party system, in the absence of a sound democratic one, which had led to the rigging of elections in favour of minority parties which ruled the country under the sway of the king, whose throne was protected by the British.

A flagrant example of such corruption was the king's interference, halting parliamentary life by suspending the enforcement of the Constitution and repeatedly dissolving the House of Representatives.

They argued that the British had occupied Egypt more than seventy years earlier and interfered provocatively in its domestic affairs ever since. There was no sign whatsoever of any probable departure on the horizon, despite Britain's recognition of Egypt as an independent sovereign state. British interference in Egypt's domestic affairs went on unceasingly, examplified by the "assault" against the city of Ismailiya.

The leaders pointed out that the Egyptian economy was based purely upon agricultural production, especially of cotton, and that unemployment was increasing, while wages and the standard of living were on the decline. They noted that industry was being neglected, and that foreigners were in control of foreign trade and various other aspects of the national economy including insurance and banks.

The leaders stated that they had acted because Egyptian society was divided into two completely separate classes. The first was few in number, comprising the feudalist and capitalist tycoons - no more than a half of one percent of the total population. Yet this class manipulated the country's wealth, whereas the underclass, representing the overwhelming majority of the people including peasants, craftsmen, retail merchants and labourers, had very limited ownership rights and made low incomes. Consequently, education and health services were being neglected and poverty, illiteracy and disease was spreading.

Another reason given for taking action was the fact that the 1948 War of Palestine had "engraved profound stains of grief" in the souls of the Egyptian people and, in one report, there had been: [sic] "bitter sharp-cut incurable scars in the Egyptian army's officers and soldiers, especially those who took part in the War in a violent reaction against the shocking stupendous corruption that took hold of those controlling the army. The dud arms deals which claimed the lives of many innocent people were among the shameful cold-blooded signs of such corruption."

The 23rd July Revolution laid out the landmarks of its course and field of work for building a new society, summarised in six principles as follows, the text being taken from a Newspaper report of the time:

"First Principle: - Putting an end to the British occupation and its accomplice Egyptian traitors by confronting the British forces stationed in the Suez Canal area."

"Second Principle: - Eliminating feudalism in opposition to its domination over land and people."

"Third Principle: - Eliminating capitalism and individual monopoly to combat resources of wealth exploitation being at the service and in the hands of a group of capitalists for their sole interests."

"Fourth Principle: - Establishment of social justice in opposition to exploitation and cruelty, the normal outcome of social injustice."

"Fifth Principle: - Building a strong national army to foil foreign conspiracies working to undermine Egypt's military power. This army will also serve as a shield against the anti-revolution supporters at home."

"Sixth Principle: - Setting a sound democratic system to confront political falsification that attempted to wipe out the features of national identity."

Much of what was said and written about internal and foreign policy was directly related to the content of a book – "Philosophy of the Revolution" which was written by Nasser and published after the event.

In it Nasser strongly identifies Egypt's needs and aspirations in the context of Arab unity and adds that an African identity cannot, also be overlooked. However, the author (and others) remains unsure what he envisaged when he wrote: "Can we ignore that there is an African continent to which we were destined to belong; a continent destined as well to witness a horrific conflict on its future; a conflict that will force its impact on us for better or for worse whether we liked it or not?"

But there can be little doubt as to what Nasser meant when he also wrote: "Can we ignore the existence of an Islamic world to which we are bound not only by creed but by historical facts as well?"

This, therefore, set the scene for the future of Egypt and gave rise to a chain of events which caused much suffering across many countries and in many families for many decades.

President Mubarak in his address on the 41st anniversary of the 23rd July Revolution in 1993, said: "The July Revolution shall remain till the end of time one of the greatest events in the history of Egypt, which we celebrate its glorious memory every year. We will always renew our honour and pride in a unique national revolution that changed the face of life in Egypt, becoming among the greatest revolutions in the history of mankind."

There is a great deal of truth in what he said, interwoven in the political rhetoric which could be expected on such an occasion. Perhaps, however, the actions in later years of the officer who made the broadcast announcing the Revolution - Major Muhammad Anwar Al-Sadat – say much more than words ever can.

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